teaching today’s learners:
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Teaching Today’s Learners:. Alternative Assessments & Rubrics. Department of Linguistics Ohio University, USA. Dr. Dawn Bikowski Director, English Language Improvement Program. This Session Will Cover. Assessment and motivation Assessment types overview Types of alternative a ssessments - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Teaching Today’s Learners:
Department of LinguisticsOhio University, USA
Alternative Assessments & Rubrics
Dr. Dawn BikowskiDirector, English Language Improvement Program
This Session Will Cover
1. Assessment and motivation2. Assessment types overview3. Types of alternative assessments4. Using alternative assessments effectively5. Making and using rubrics6. Learner training with alternative assessments
Assessment vs. Testing
Assessment more comprehensive, general
• What is included in assessment?– Tests– Observations– Interviews– Projects– Activities with data collection
Chat• Did you ever take a test that you thought
wasn’t fair?
• How did that make you feel?
Chat• Did you ever take a test that you thought
wasn’t fair?
• How did that make you feel?
Chat• How can we use assessment to motivate
students?
Assessments and Motivation
1. Appreciate your students’ hard work
2. Use assessments to build rapport with
students and build their self-esteem
3. Personalize feedback and assessment when
possible; provide specifics
4. Assess strengths as well as weaknesses
(Fengying, 2003)
Assessments and Motivation
5. Combine types of assessments– Students can identify strengths and weaknesses– Teachers can collect more comprehensive data
Assessments and Motivation
6. Use Objectives-Referenced Assessment– Assessments and grades based on lesson objectives
– Precise grading and comments• Students less likely to question grading
– Students evaluate their own learning
Why Assessment?
http://comicskingdom.com/tiger/
Why Assessment?
1. To give grades
http://comicskingdom.com/tiger/
Why Assessment?
1. To give grades2. To plan instruction3. To improve instruction and programs4. To help students learn
http://comicskingdom.com/tiger/
II. OVERVIEW OF ASSESSMENT TYPES
Formal AssessmentSystematic way to evaluate students’ progress & overall achievement1. Standardized measures 2. Often tests for class grades3. Benchmark tests – How well students perform compared to peers– Performance beginning, middle, end of term
4. Measures what we know about language
Formal Assessment Example
http://englishteststore.net
s
Types of Assessment Matching
Formative ______
Peer ______
Summative _____
A. Formal evaluation at the end of a learning period. Purpose: to measure what a student learned.
B. Assessment that takes place during the process of learning. Purpose: to provide feedback to help the learning process.
C. Learners evaluate each other’s work, using pre-set guidelines
Types of Assessment Matching
Formative __B___
Peer __C___
Summative __A__
A. Evaluation at the end of a learning period. Purpose: to measure what a student learned.
B. Assessment that takes place during the process of learning. Purpose: to provide feedback to help the learning process.
C. Learners evaluate each other’s work, using pre-set guidelines
1. SummativeEvaluation at the end of a learning period. Purpose: to measure what a student has learned.
2. FormativeAssessment that takes place during the process of learning. Purpose: to provide feedback to help the learning process.
3. Peer AssessmentLearners evaluate each other’s work, using pre-set guidelines. Purpose: Learner development.
Alternative Assessment
“Procedures and techniques which can be used within the context of instruction and can be easily incorporated into the daily activities of the school or classroom.”
(Hamayan, 1995, p. 213)
Which words match?
“Students are evaluated on what they (a)___________ and (b) ____________rather than on what they are able to (c) ____________ and (d) _____________”
Word Bank:reproduce, integrate, produce, recall
Which words match?
“Students are evaluated on what they (a) integrate and (b) produce rather than on what they are able to (c) recall and (d) reproduce”
(Huerta-Macias, 1995, p. 9)
Alternative Assessment
1. Performance based; focus on use of language
– Designed and structured differently from formal
– Graded or scored differently from formal
2. Based on authentic tasks
Alternative Assessment
1. Performance based– Designed and structured differently from formal – Graded or scored differently from formal
2. Based on authentic tasks 3. Goal is to evaluate how well learners can
communicate in various ways
Alternative Assessment
1. Performance based– Designed and structured differently from formal – Graded or scored differently from formal
2. Based on authentic tasks 3. Goal is to evaluate how well learners can
communicate in various ways4. Learners involved in assessment process– Help to set the criteria – Can assess themselves and their peers
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Alternative Assessment?
A. They are built around topics or issues of interest to the students
B. They are based on real-world communication contexts and situations
C. They require creative use of language rather than simple repetition
X They allow for only one correct answer or right wayE. Their evaluation criteria and standards are known to the
studentF. They allow for self-evaluation and self-correction as they
proceed
Gather evidence about how students complete real-world tasks:
• Document individual student growth over time, not comparing students
• Emphasize students’ strengths, not weaknesses• Consider context issues such as: – Learning styles, cultural/educational backgrounds– Language proficiency, grade level – Course content
Chat
I want to try alternative assessments, but where will I find the time?
I have too many tests to give…. Help!
Question: Where can we fit alternative assessments?
Alternative assessment and curriculum
Where can we fit alternative assessments?1. Formative assessments: – To guide teaching topics and lessons– To prepare for formal assessments/standardized tests
2. Activities: – Many activities can become alternative assessments
Activities vs. Assessment
Many class activities can become assessment if you:
1. Keep good records
2. Are clear with yourself (and your students) about
the criteria for what is being assessed
Activity with Criteria & Weighting
Assignment:1. Record yourself speaking on ______ topic for
2-3 minutes
2. You will be graded on your word stress:– Correct number of syllables (0-25 points)– Correct syllables stressed (0-25 points)– Unstressed syllables have reduced vowels (0-25 points)– Variation in syllable length (0-25 points)
Building a Class Community
How can we provide a supportive classroom atmosphere so students feel comfortable with self-assessment, peer assessment, sharing their work? Tell students your class and activity goalsGive supportive and helpful feedbackAllow students to make some choices in class
X Try to trick students to show them what they don’t know—NO
Choose activities that are motivating for studentsTeach students how to set and monitor goals Include community-building activities for class
III. TYPES OF ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENTS
Section overview
• Student self-assessment• Peer review• Speaking and presenting assessments• Reading and writing assessments– Portfolios
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Sample Goals:1. Use the present tense correctly when
speaking about general truths.2. Speak loudly and have good eye contact
during presentations.3. Use topic sentences to begin paragraphs
in academic writing.
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Teacher assessments focus on goal
areas
1. Feedback and assessment will be specific2. Will not be comprehensive3. Purpose: to help students attain goals
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Teacher assessments focus on goal
areas
Student self-assessments focus on goal
areas
1. Students may need to be trained to be self-directed learners
2. Teachers can give students feedback on their self-assessments
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Teacher assessments focus on goal
areas
Student self-assessments focus on goal
areas
WritingConferences
Learning logs
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Teacher assessments focus on goal
areas
Student self-assessments focus on goal
areas
Students reflect on progress
WritingConferences
Learning logs
1. Journals (in- or out-of-class): Penzu, Google Docs2. Pair share with partner3. Class presentations
Student Self Assessment
Students set goals based
on curriculum
Teacher assessments focus on goal
areas
Student self-assessments focus on goal
areas
Students reflect on progress
All assessments are based on criteria
WritingConferences
Learning logs
Samples: Self-Assessment Techniques
1.What types of assignments are good for self-assessments?
2.What can students record?
3.Where can students put this information?
Samples: Self-Assessment Techniques
1.What types of assignments are good for self-assessments?– Assignments where they can keep a checklist based on
specific guidelines & criteria, for any skill
– Show progress over time
2.What can students record?– Activities, time spent, progress toward goals
3.Where can students put this information?– Charts, logs, journals, binders, Google Docs/Forms
Sample Self-Assessment Chart
http://www.americanenglish.state.gov/resources/shaping-way-we-teach-english-successful-practices-around-world
Sample learner log
Sample learner log
Sample learner log
Sample learner log
K-W-L Charts
K: what I knowW: what I want to know/find outL: what I've learned– Chart can be completed in 1st language or with
illustrations
Know Want to know Learned
Chat
• How can we use KWL charts to help learners with reading?
http://vimeo.com/82798767
Self-Assessment Feedback
1. Why give self-assessment feedback?
2. How much should teachers talk? How much should students talk?
Self-Assessment Feedback
1.Why give students self-assessment feedback?– Help them stay on goals & monitor progress
– Help them set new goals as needed
– Help them celebrate successes
Self-Assessment Feedback
1.Why give students self-assessment feedback?– Help them stay on goals & monitor progress
– Help them set new goals as needed
– Help them celebrate successes
2. How much should teachers talk? How much should students talk?– Students should talk more than the teacher;
teacher is a guide
Steps in Doing Self-Assessment
1. Identify task that students should monitor in
own learning
2. Identify criteria students will need to
complete the task successfully
3. Make or find a form they can complete—give
them a sample
4. Require the self-assessment form for grade
Peer Review
http://www.americanenglish.state.gov/resources/shaping-way-we-teach-english-successful-practices-around-world
Poll Questions about Peer Review
PollPeer Review
Have you ever tried peer review in your classes?– Yes– No
Peer Review Poll
If you have done peer review in your classes, what did you like about it?
– Students can help each other
– Students can share ideas and build classroom
community
– Students can think critically
– Students can practice listening and speaking
– Students can be engaged during class
Peer Review/Feedback Activities
Students in pairs can
– Help each other understand the assignment
– Share ideas for content and organization or language use
– Read each other’s work, giving feedback on the ideas,
structure, and clarity of the writing
– Listen to each other’s practice presentations
Pairs need clear review guidelines
Peer Review Guidelines
1. Grouping options– Higher proficiency can help lower proficiency
– Equal proficiency students work together
2. Teacher roles– Facilitators to help students give useful feedback
– Time keepers & resource experts
3. Student roles– Active participants, thinking critically, talking,
listening
Sample peer review form
Examples
Self-Assessment &
Peer Review
Speaking & Presenting
Group Project and Poster Presentation
1. Groups created a travel itinerary for week-long trip in China (budget $1000)
2. Found hotels, transportation, activities3. Created poster4. Practiced presenting and asking/answering questions5. Presented poster in Open Format
What type of alternative assessment?